What are the symptoms of coronary artery disease (CAD)?

Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease in the U.S. But the good news is that many people can delay or prevent coronary artery disease with lifestyle changes or medications. At Advocate Health Care, our cardiologists offer world-class care to prevent or treat heart disease.

What is coronary artery disease?

Have you heard of coronary artery disease (CAD)? It’s possible that you could have it and not know it. Coronary artery disease occurs when the blood vessels that carry blood to your heart (coronary arteries) become blocked and narrowed. Usually, the blockage occurs because a fatty substance called plaque builds up in your coronary arteries. Over time, plaque buildup can cause your arteries to narrow and stiffen, restricting blood flow to your heart.

Early signs of coronary artery disease

In the early stages, you may not notice any coronary artery disease symptoms. “It’s not unusual for people to say that they’ve been having heart disease symptoms, but they thought it was indigestion,” says Dr. Silverman, cardiologist with Advocate Health Care, “There are people who have something called silent ischemia, where the heart’s not getting enough blood flow, but they don’t experience any symptoms.”

However, as your coronary arteries narrow, you may experience:

• Chest pain
• Racing, fluttering or pounding heartbeats (heart palpitations)
• Shortness of breath, especially during activity

For some people, the first sign of coronary artery disease is a heart attack. In fact, coronary artery disease is one of the most common causes of heart attacks. If you think you’re having a heart attack, call 911 immediately.

Common heart attack symptoms

A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to your heart is suddenly blocked. It requires emergency treatment to restore blood flow to your heart.

Although heart attack symptoms can vary from person to person, the most common symptoms include:

• Chest pain in the center or left side of your chest
• Discomfort in your back, neck or jaw
• Lightheadedness or weakness
• Pain that radiates through one or both shoulders or arms
• Sensations of squeezing, pressure or fullness in your chest
• Shortness of breath, even without activity

Signs of a heart attack in women

Heart attack symptoms are often slightly different in women than in men. Women may experience chest pain, but they also report:

• Anxiety
• Back pain
• Difficulty sleeping
• Extreme fatigue
• Indigestion
• Nausea

Because women’s symptoms may be less obvious and specific, they’re more likely to delay seeking medical treatment. But the sooner you receive treatment, the lower your risk of severe damage to your heart muscle.

Common coronary artery disease symptoms

Signs and symptoms of coronary artery disease can vary greatly from one person to another. Some of the most common coronary artery disease symptoms include:

• Chest pain
• Heart palpitations
• Indigestion
• Irregular heart rhythms
• Severe fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling of the hands and feet

Like heart attacks, the symptoms of coronary artery disease may also vary between men and women. “For women, oftentimes it may just be pain in the middle of the back, unexplained shortness of breath, jaw discomfort or burning in the chest,” says Dr. Silverman. “Women tend to experience heart disease in a different way than men.”

What to do if you experience these coronary artery disease symptoms

It’s important to know the signs and symptoms of coronary artery disease and when to seek emergency or specialty care. The quicker you receive treatment, the less damage your heart will sustain.

Know what to do for these red flag symptoms:

Seek emergency care

You should always call 911 or seek emergency treatment for:

• Chest pain: Chest pain can occur for many reasons. But because it is often one of the main symptoms of a heart attack, you should always seek emergency treatment for chest pain. Call 911 if you experience generalized pain or pain on the left side of the chest, especially along with other heart attack symptoms.
• Heart palpitations: Heart palpitations may feel like your heart is pounding, racing or skipping beats. Often, heart palpitations aren’t a cause for concern, especially if they happen infrequently and only last a few seconds. But if you have other heart disease symptoms, see your health care provider for evaluation and diagnosis. Call 911 if you experience heart palpitations along with other heart attack symptoms, including chest pain or shortness of breath.

Speak with your health care provider

Some heart disease symptoms can be serious but may not require emergency treatment. You should call your healthcare provider if you experience:

• Abnormal heart rhythms: An irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) may feel like a fluttering or racing heartbeat. Irregular heartbeats may be no cause for concern, or they may point to an underlying condition like coronary artery disease. If you experience symptoms of persistent arrhythmias, see your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment.
• Fatigue: Many conditions can cause severe fatigue, including heart disease. If you feel constantly tired or have difficulty performing daily tasks, call your health care provider. You may need a heart screening to diagnose or rule out coronary artery disease.
• Swelling of the hands and feet: Swollen hands or feet are among the most common heart disease symptoms. Swelling doesn’t always mean you have heart disease, but you should call your health care provider for a check-up. You may need tests to diagnose or rule out coronary artery disease.

When to schedule a heart scan

If you're at high risk of coronary artery disease, talk to your health care provider. You may need a test called a heart scan to check for narrowed arteries and coronary artery disease.

Advocate Health Care offers quick and inexpensive heart scans to find out if you are at risk of developing coronary artery disease – or if you already have it. This simple test could even save your life. Learn more about our $49 heart scans.